MOD biannual civilian personnel report - October 2024
Published 14 November 2024
© Crown copyright 2024
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/mod-biannual-civilian-personnel-report-october-2024/mod-biannual-civilian-personnel-report-october-2024
This statistical release presents figures on the strengths, inflow and outflow of civilian personnel employed by the Ministry of Defence (MOD). Definitions of terms used in this publication are present throughout.
For further data and information on the MOD Biannual Civilian Personnel Report, please visit:
Accredited Official Statistics publication
Accredited Official Statistics are called National Statistics in the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007.
The Biannual Civilian Personnel Report (BCPR) was introduced as a publication in April 2018 replacing the previously published Quarterly Civilian Personnel Report (QCPR). They comply with the standards of trustworthiness, quality and value in the Code of Practice for Statistics and should be labelled ‘Accredited Official Statistics’.
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are produced according to sound methods; and
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are managed impartially and objectively in the public interest.
Further information on the accreditation process can be found here: Accreditation explanation web page
Once statistics have been designated as Accredited Official Statistics it is a statutory requirement that the Code of Practice shall continue to be observed. Further details about how this report has been developed since its confirmation as an Accredited Official Statistic can be found in the Background Quality Report.
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1. Main Points
MOD civilian personnel: Full Time Equivalent (FTE) and Headcount
At 1 October 2024, the MOD civilian personnel FTE was 60,549. This is a decrease of 906 (1.5%) compared with 1 October 2023.
At 1 October 2024, the MOD civilian personnel headcount was 62,631. This is a decrease of 911 (1.4%) compared with 1 October 2023.
At 1 October 2024 the MOD Civil Servant FTE (excluding LECs) was 56,799 and the headcount was 58,787, a decrease of 951 FTE (1.6%) and 968 headcount (1.6%) compared with 1 October 2023.
The decrease in both FTE and headcount strength was caused by the Departments contribution to the previous administration’s headcount cap, which has now been removed.
MOD civilian personnel inflow
For the 12 months from 1 October 2023 to 30 September 2024, MOD civilian personnel inflow was 4,977. This is a decrease of 2,605 (34.4%) compared with the previous 12 months.
MOD civilian personnel outflow
For the 12 months from 1 October 2023 to 30 September 2024, MOD civilian personnel outflow was 5,906. This is an increase of 172 (3.0%) compared with the previous 12 months.
2. Civilian Personnel
The MOD civilian personnel strength (FTE) at 1 October 2024 was 60,549, a decrease of 906 FTE (1.5%) compared with 1 October 2023 (61,455).
The MOD civilian personnel strength (headcount) at 1 October 2024 was 62,631, a decrease of 911 FTE (1.4%) compared with 1 October 2023 (63,542).
The MOD Civil Servant (FTE) strength at 1 October 2024 was 56,799, a decrease of 951 FTE (1.6%) compared with 1 October 2023 (57,749).
The MOD Civil Servant (headcount) strength at 1 October 2024 was 58,787, a decrease of 968 (1.6%) compared with 1 October 2023 (59,755).
Strength: Total number of personnel employed by the Department at a specific time point.
Headcount: A measure of the size of the workforce based on the number of personnel employed rather than by their FTE proportion.
Full Time Equivalence (FTE): A figure that allows part-time workers’ hours to be put into the same units as full-time workers.
MOD Civil Servants: MOD Civil Servants employed within MOD Main TLBs, Executive Agencies and Royal Fleet Auxiliary.
Figure 1 shows that at 1 October 2024 MOD Main Top Level Budgetary areas (TLBs) had the largest FTE share of 59.4%. MOD Executive Agencies accounted for 31.7%, Locally Engaged Civilians 6.2% and Royal Fleet Auxiliary’s share was the smallest at 2.7%.
Figure 1: Breakdown of MOD Civilian Personnel by Main Groups (FTE), 1 October 2024
Table 1 shows the FTE net change in civilian personnel between 1 October 2023 and 1 October 2024. MOD Main TLBs showed the highest percentage change with a decrease of 2.5 per cent, with Locally engaged civilians (LEC) showing an increase of 1.2 per cent.
Table 1: MOD Civilian Personnel by Main Groups (FTE)
| 1 October 2023 | 1 October 2024 | Difference (number) | Difference (% change) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MOD Main TLB | 36,857 | 35,944 | -913 | -2.5% |
| MOD Main Executive Agencies | 19,217 | 19,218 | 1 | 0.0% |
| Royal Fleet Auxiliary | 1,675 | 1,636 | -39 | -2.3% |
| MOD Civil Servants | 57,749 | 56,799 | -951 | -1.6% |
| Locally engaged civilians | 3,706 | 3,750 | 44 | 1.2% |
| MOD Total | 61,455 | 60,549 | -906 | -1.5% |
MOD Main Top Level Budgetary areas (TLBs) are the major organisational groupings of the Department directly responsible for the planning, management and delivery of departmental capability. These are Navy Command, Army TLB, HQ Air Command, Head Office, UK Strategic Command, Defence Infrastructure Organisation and Defence Nuclear Organisation. Please see glossary for further information.
MOD Executive Agencies are self accounting units that have greater freedom than other government departments in managing their own financial and management activities. These are UK Hydrographic Office, Defence Science & Technology Laboratory, Submarine Delivery Agency, and Defence Equipment & Support. Please see glossary for further information.
Royal Fleet Auxiliary are a civilian-manned fleet, owned by the MOD, which supports Royal Navy ships around the world, supplying warships with fuel, ammunition and supplies.
Locally Engaged Civilians are employees are recruited overseas exclusively for employment in support of the UK Armed Forces. LECs are also employed on terms and conditions analogously with local employment law and market forces, and not those of the UK.
Figure 2 demonstrates an overall trend of increasing civilian workforce (FTE) from 1 April 2019 to 1 January 2024. MOD civilian strength peaked at 1 January 2024 and has since been steadily decreasing to 1 October 2024, returning to levels similar to 1 April 2023.
On 29 July 2024, the Chancellor announced in the public sector spending audit that Departments should make value for money decisions and drive efficiencies. Defence is working to ensure its Civil Service workforce remains affordable and targeted at delivering the Department’s priorities. The reduction in MOD Civil Service strength since January 2024 reflects the Department’s contribution to the previous administration’s headcount cap which has now been removed.
Figure 2: MOD Civilian Personnel Strength (FTE), 1 October 2019 to 1 October 2024
3. Civilian Personnel by Grade
Figure 3 shows the breakdown by grades of personnel (FTE) in MOD Main TLBs. At 1 October 2024, Senior and Higher Executive Officers accounted for the highest proportion at 34.8%, followed by Administrative Officers and Assistants at 29.4%. The remaining proportions were shared between Grade 6 & 7 personnel (9.6%), Executive Officers (17.6%), Industrial personnel (7.6%) and the smallest section: SCS at 1.0%.
The proportion of personnel in a MOD Main TLB who were classified as non-industrial has slowly increased since 1 April 2019. The proportion has ranged from 88.3% at 1 April 2019 to 92.4% as at 1 October 2024.
Non-industrial personnel undertake work such as administration, analysis, policy, procurement, finance, medicine, dental care, teaching, policing, science and engineering. Non-industrial grades are shown in terms of Civil Service grade structure and based on substantive grade.
Industrial personnel are employed primarily in a trade, craft or other manual labour occupations. This covers a wide range of work done by industrial technicians, air freight handlers, storekeepers, vergers and drivers etc.
Figure 3: Proportion of MOD Main TLB Civilian Personnel by Grade*, 1 October 2024
* Excludes unknown grades.
4. Inflow and Outflow
Inflow The number of personnel joining the Department within a monthly, quarterly or financial year period.
Outflow The number of personnel leaving the Department within a monthly, quarterly or financial year period.
Inflow and Outflow excludes any movement of personnel within the Department.
The total annual inflow of civilian personnel in the 12 months from 1 October 2023 to 30 September 2024 was 4,977, a 34.4% decrease (2,605) compared with that in the previous 12 months (Table 2).
MOD Executive Agencies (excluding DE&S) showed the highest percentage change for inflow with a 36.8% decrease, followed by Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) with a 34.8% decrease and MOD Main TLBs with a 33.5% decrease (Table 2).
Table 2: Inflow of MOD Civilian Personnel (Headcount)
| 1 October 2022 to 30 September 2023 | 1 October 2023 to 30 September 2024 | Difference (number) | Difference (% change) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MOD Main TLBs | 4,768 | 3,171 | -1,597 | -33.5% |
| MOD Executive Agencies (excluding DE&S) | 1,382 | 873 | -509 | -36.8% |
| Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) | 1,432 | 933 | -499 | -34.8% |
| MOD Total | 7,582 | 4,977 | -2,605 | -34.4% |
The annual outflow of civilian personnel in the 12 months from 1 October 2023 to 30 September 2024 was 5,906, a 3.0% increase (172) compared with the previous 12 months (Table 3). MOD Executive Agencies (excluding DE&S) showed the highest percentage change for outflow at a 18.4% increase, whilst Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) had a 9.6% decrease compared with the previous 12 months.
Table 3: Outflow of MOD Civilian Personnel (Headcount)
| 1 October 2022 to 30 September 2023 | 1 October 2023 to 30 September 2024 | Difference (number) | Difference (% change) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MOD Main TLBs | 4,043 | 3,171 | -1,597 | -33.5% |
| MOD Executive Agencies (excluding DE&S) | 767 | 908 | 141 | 18.4% |
| Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) | 924 | 835 | -89 | -9.6% |
| MOD Total | 5,734 | 5,906 | 172 | 3.0% |
The two most common reasons for leaving of civilian personnel in a MOD Main Top Level Budgetary areas (TLBs) from 1 October 2023 to 30 September 2024 were resignation and retirement, accounting for 35.8% and 27.7% respectively (Figure 4).
Figure 4: Outflow by Reason of MOD Main TLB Personnel, 1 October 2023 to 30 September 2024
Figure 5 shows the overall net flow of civilian personnel in MOD Main Top Level Budgetary areas (TLBs) per 12 months. The overall net flow trends were negative from 1 April 2022 onwards, changing to a positive net flow from 1 July 2023. Since 1 July 2024, the net flow has reverted to a negative trend, caused by the Departments contribution to the previous administration’s headcount cap, which has now been removed.
For the 12 months from 1 October 2023 to 30 September 2024, the outflow from MOD Main TLBs was 4,163 and the intake 3,171; resulting in 992 net flow decrease.
Figure 5: Inflow and Outflow of MOD Main TLB Personnel (Headcount), 1 October 2020 to 30 September 2024
5. Glossary
Civil Servants: Staff employed by the Crown (appointed by departments or executive agencies). Their roles, grades and salaries are broadly comparable and whilst they usually work for one specific department or agency, they are able to apply for postings across most other areas of government.
Navy Command: A MOD Main Top Level Budgetary area (TLB) for the Royal Navy and Royal Marines. (Previously listed as Fleet TLB). Formed on 1 April 2006 by the merger of the Commander-in-Chief Fleet and the Chief of Naval Personnel/ Commander-in-Chief Naval Home Command.
Army TLB: A MOD Main Top Level Budgetary area (TLB) for the Army. (Previously reported as Land Forces) Performs a similar role to Navy Command within the context of trained Army formations and equipment.
HQ Air Command: A MOD Main Top Level Budgetary area (TLB) for the Royal Air Force (RAF). Incorporates the RAF’s Personnel and Training Command and Strike Command with a single fully integrated Headquarters, which equips the RAF to provide a coherent and coordinated single Air focus to the other Services, MOD Head Office, the Permanent Joint Headquarters and the rest of MOD.
Head Office: A MOD Main Top Level Budgetary area (TLB). (Previously listed as Head Office & Corporate Services). Established as at 1 April 2012. Lead areas of activity include acting as Head of Establishment for London HO Buildings and associated support requirements, the production of the Department’s Resource Accounts, Governance support for MOD Trading Funds and Senior Finance Office (SFO). SFO is responsible for ensuring that decisions are taken with due regard to affordability and value for money. For the purposes of this reporting, Head Office also includes Defence Business Services (DBS) and Ministry of Defence Police (MDP). As of 1 October 2024 responsibility for Ministry of Defence Police (MDP) transferred to Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO).
UK Strategic Command: A MOD Main Top Level Budgetary area (TLB). Established at 1 April 2012 to ensure that a range of military support functions covering medical services, training and education, intelligence and cyber are organised in an efficient and effective manner to support success on operations, support investment in joint capabilities, strengthen the links between operational theatres and assist top level decision making. As of October 2019 JFC changed their official title to UKStratcom.
Defence Infrastructure Organisation: A MOD Main Top Level Budgetary area (TLB). Established as at 1 April 2011, DIO manages the military estate, including accommodation for Service personnel and their families, on behalf of the MOD. It replaced Defence Estates and includes TLB property and facilities management functions previously situated within other TLBs. As of 1 October 2024 responsibility for Ministry of Defence Police (MDP) transferred to Defence Infrastructure Organisation.
Defence Nuclear Organisation (DNO): A MOD Main Top Level Budgetary area (TLB). Established as at 1 April 2016. The MOD organisation that oversees all defence nuclear headquarters business, including investment in future nuclear submarines and retired nuclear equipment dismantling and disposal.
UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO): An Executive Agency which provides navigation charts and other hydrographic information and services to Defence, primarily the Royal Navy and commercial shipping.
Defence Science & Technology Laboratory (DSTL): An Executive Agency established in July 2001. It carries out impartial scientific and technical research and supplies advice to the MOD and other government departments.
Submarine Delivery Agency (SDA): An Executive Agency established in April 2018, SDA manages the procurement, in-service support and disposal of UK nuclear submarines, which are some of the most complex equipment in the world. They deliver to the Royal Navy the capabilities essential to the Continuous at Sea Deterrent (CASD) - the cornerstone of national security.
Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S): A bespoke trading entity responsible for equipping and supporting the UK’s Armed Forces. They manage a vast range of complex projects to buy and support all the equipment and services that the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force need to operate effectively. They work closely with industry, including through partnering agreements and private finance initiatives. As at 1 April 2024 DECA formally transferred within DE&S.
Defence Electronics Components Agency (DECA): An Executive Agency established in April 2015. DECA is a trusted MOD and industry partner with a highly professional team aiming to provide benchmark supporting services as the principal in-house government organisation dedicated to maintenance, repair, overhaul, upgrade, procurement and managed service provision in the defence avionics, electronics and components field. As at 1 April 2024 DECA formally transferred within DE&S.
6. Further Information
6.1 Rounding
Tables and Charts within this document
Percentages and related change in percentage points across time periods are calculated from unrounded data and rounded to one decimal place. Totals and sub-totals are rounded separately and so may not equal the sums of their rounded parts. This also applies to civilian personnel data expressed in terms of Full-Time Equivalents (FTE).
Excel tables accompanying this publication
An updated MOD Disclosure Control and Rounding policy has been published on GOV.UK and we have applied this policy to the statistics on Civilian personnel in the accompanying Excel tables. The policy is available here.
Disclosure control will still be applied to statistical or numeric information to safeguard the confidentiality of individuals. ‘Disclosure control’ refers to the efforts made to reduce the risk of disclosure, such as applying statistical methods to protect ‘personally identifiable information’ (PII) in aggregated data tables. These safeguards can take many forms (e.g. data suppression, rounding, recoding etc.).
6.2 Revisions
Occasionally errors can occur in statistical processes; procedures are constantly reviewed to minimise this risk. Should a significant error be found the publication on the website will be updated and an errata slip published documenting the revision.
6.3 Background Quality Report
The background quality report provides more detailed information about the quality of data used to produce this publication and any statistics derived from that data. MOD civilian personnel statistics: background quality reports
Contact us:
Responsible statistician: Analysis Civilian Head of Branch
Further information/mailing list: [email protected]
Background quality report: Background quality report
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